Automatic rewinding device for electric-light cords.



4 G. J. PEACOCK. AUTOMATIC BBWINDING .DEVICE IOB. ELECTRIC LIGHT OOBDS.

1 APPmoA'rIoN HLED 111111: 14. 1910. 973,553. Patented o1.25,191o.

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GEORGE J". PEACOCK, OF ALBUQUERQUE, TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO.

AUTOMATIC REWINDING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC-LIGHT CORDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

Application led .Tune 14, 1910. Serial No. 566,791.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. PEAoooK, aV

tric light cord and to automatically re-wind the same after it has been drawn out when the light is needed at some distance from the hanger, my object being to provide a simple and compact construction resembling a spring drum, and which may be readily and easily secured in an operative position, and in which the working parts may be readily removed for repairs, without disturbing the wire or cord upon the surface of the drum.

Vith these and other objects in view, my invention resides in the features of construction and arrangement to be hereinafter pointed out with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure l is a side elevation of the drum, Fig. 2 is a similar view of the operating parts, and, Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the assembled device secured in posit-ion.

Referring to these figures, the drum 10 is, as usual, provided with side disks 11 and 12, the side disk l2, however, having a circular, outstanding, peripheral flange 13 which has a pair of slotted openings 14 and 15, and the edge of which is adapted to bear against the support to which the drum is affixed, for instance a ceiling.

ing the same, and is rovided with an opening 16 adjacent its e ge and in line with the flange opening, 15, and has its material slit at 17 between openings 15 and 16 so that an electric light cord 18, extending from an insulator or the like, may be passed inwardly through flange opening 14 and outwardly through flange opening 15 and then forced inwardly to extend through the disk opening 16 by springing open the slit 17. This drum may be fastened, as shown in Fig. 3, by a screw or like member 19 adapted to be projected outwardly through a central opening in disk 12 and having upon its inner end The disk 12 extends across its respective end of the drum, closa winged head 20 and a circular enlarge ment 21 adjacent said head to abut disk 12. The operating parts of my device, shown in Fig. 2, and which are adapted to lit into the drum 10 through its open end adjacent disk l1, are mounted in a skeleton casing comprising circular plates 22 spacedly connected by sleeved bolts 23, plates 22 being centrally apertured to receive therethrough a rotatory spindle 24 having a projecting end to which is clamped an angular arm 25, the end of which projects slightly beyond the periphery o-f drum l() and serves to support a rotatory sheave 26. Mounted upon this spindle 24, are a pair of gear wheels 27 and 28, the hubs 29 of which occupy the space between plates 22. The larger gear wheel 27 is loose and has a flanged rim 30 provided with internal gear teeth 31, and its hub 29 has a projecting pin 32 upon which is fastened one end of the spring 33 coiled about said hub and having its opposite end clamped to one of the bolts 23. The other gear wheel 28 is of greatly reduced size and has peripheral teeth, its hub 29 being secured to spindle 24. Between the gear 28 and the teeth 31 of gear 27, is a connecting gear 34, mounted upon a stud shaft 35 extending from the adjacent frame plate 22. This latter frame plate 22 has an integral section of its material 36 struck outwardly therefrom and provided with a central slotted aperture 37 which is adapted to receive therethrough the winged head 20 of the fastening member 17, when the frame is pressed upwardly into the drum. Thus a slight rotatory movement of the frame serves to lock the same upon head 20.

In securing my improved device in posi tion to operate, the electric light cord 18 is extended through opening 1G in the drum, as previously described, and is wound around the drum, and its end, with the light, passed over the sheave 26. Thus when the cord is withdrawn, the sheave 26 and arm 25 are rotated about the drum, as the latter is stationary, causing rotation of spindle 24 to wind up the spring 33, so that when the light is released the tension of spring 33 causes rotation of these parts in the opposite direction, and consequently causes rewinding of the light cord upon the drum.

Pivotally secured to a small bracket 39 attached to the inner face of the frame plate 22 which carries stud 35, is a pawl 40, the nose of which is in engagement with the teeth 31 of gear 27 and which operates to prevent said gear from rotating and thus checks the cord 18 at any desired point. lIhus it will be seen that, when it is desired to lower the light and carry the same to a distant corner, the user may grasp the light and as the cord 18 is pulled from the drum, the latter being stationary, causes rotation of 'guide arm 25 thereabout, and consequently causes rotation of the spindle 2-1 which, through gear wheels 27, 28 and 34;, causes winding up and tensioning of spring 33. Thus also when t-he light is released, reverse rotation of arm 9.5 will be caused by spring 33 with the result that the cord 18 will be re-wound upon the drum. The dog 10 has a round nose, as shown, and a quick release of the light causes its disengagement in a manner similar to that of the dog in a shade roller.

I claim:

1. The combination of a stationarf, hollow drum, fastening means to secure the same upon a suitable support, a removable frame within said drum having means to detachably engage said fastening means, a mechanism within said frame including a rotatory spindle and a rewinding spring, an arm secured to and extending from said spindle beyond the periphery7 of the drum, and a guide sheave carried by said arm.

2. The combination of a stationary, hollow drum, a frame removably held within said drum, a mechanism within said frame including a rotatory spindle and a rewinding spring, an arm secured to, and projecting eXteriorly of the drum from said spindle, and a guide sheavecarried by said arm.

3. The combination of a. stationary, hollow drum, fastening means to secure the same upon a suitable support, a removable frame within said drum having means to dctachably engage said fastening means, a mechanism within said frame including a rotatory spindle, a set of gears, and a rewinding spring, an arm securedv to and eX- tending from said spindle beyond the periphery of said drum, a guide sheave carried by said arm, and a pawl mounted in said frame and in engagement with the teeth of one of the gears.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE J. PEACOCK.

IVitnesses J. LUKENS, IV. I. METCALF. 

